News from around the clubs - November 13

Bexhill Rotary Club

FOR someone who describes striding up mountains and down into white water valleys in all weathers as one of his favourite pastimes, walking with his wife and daughter through the gently undulating Sussex countryside, on one of the most perfect mornings of the year, must have been a bit of a doddle.

But this was serious '“ a lot more serious!

It is a tradition that Bexhill Rotary Club's president nominates his personal charities for the year and this year's president, Roger Batey, chose Bexhill Caring Community and the 1066 Specials '“ the disability football team created by Rotarian Harold Lawrence and favoured by Bexhill presidents since 2002 '“ as his two charities.

Normally the chosen charity (or charities) will benefit from such things as the Rotary Christmas collections, the Rotary Charity Golf Day and any other special, fundraising events staged by the whole club during the year.

Rotary, however, is a "service organisation" and Rotarians would far rather do things for people than simply raise money for them; and Roger, not one to let grass grow under his feet, decided that he would like to go out and raise funds for his charities by his own efforts.

He chose to walk the Cuckoo Trail, and his wife Linda and their daughter Fiona chose to walk with him.

The Cuckoo Trail follows an old railway line that ran from Heathfield to Hampden Park but was closed by Dr Beeching in 1968. The railway line was removed and eventually tarmac was laid down the whole route.

Although the trail measures 14 miles in total, the length normally walked is from Heathfield to Polegate and measures 11 miles, and that is the walk Roger, Linda and Fiona set out to cover at 11am on a beautiful Sunday morning.

Three hours later they walked into Polegate without having heard a single cuckoo.

Since he had decided to "walk the walk", some eight weeks previously, Roger had relentlessly pursued family, friends, ex-colleagues, drinking mates, Rotarians, people he stood behind and in front of in queues (and next to in pubs) and anyone else he could think of, all of which has amounted to a total of over 1,200 worth of pledged sponsorship.

Well done, President Roger!

Hastings and Rother Decorative and Fine Arts Society

THE title of the lecture on Monday is A History of Christmas Shopping by Dr Claire Walsh.

The lecture examines the arrival of Christmas shopping in the 19th century, the frenzy of department store shopping, Christmas bazaars, ruthless bargain hunting and the post-Christmas sales.

Before the late 19th century, it was a simple, domestic affair concentrated on Christmas Day.

From the Renaissance to the mid 19th century, shopping for Christmas simply meant buying food for the Christmas Day meal.

But by the late 19th century Christmas had been transformed.

As the popularity of gift exchange increased, 'doing the shops' became a central feature of Christmas celebrations in the 1880s. With the commercialisation of Christmas, the introduction of Christmas cards, decorations, presents and the tree, the shopping workload increased remarkably and the Christmas period expanded from a few days to a six-week period within a matter of years.

Claire Walsh holds a PhD from the European University Institute of Florence, has worked at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Courtauld Institute of Art and Museum of London and also in Europe, the USA and Canada. She is currently an honorary research fellow at the Centre for the History of Retail and Distribution at the University of Wolverhampton.

We meet at the Arthur Easton Centre in the grounds of St Michael's Hospice, Upper Maze Hill, St Leonards-on-Sea, on the third Monday in every month (except July and August) at 2.30pm. Visitors (4.50 per visit) are always welcome. For further details, please telephone Glenis Malone on 01424 435629, e-mail: glenis-mal [email protected] or visit our website: www.nadfassusssexarea.org.uk

NHS Retirement Fellowship

HAVE you ever worked for the NHS?

Why don't you join us for a cup of tea and meet up with ex-colleagues at our next meeting on Monday at 2pm at Bexhill Hospital's health centre?

The guest speaker this month is Mr D Harrison, talking about From The Vine To Wine, which should prove interesting.

A raffle will be held with many attractive prizes to be won.

Thanks to our last month's speaker, Mr Roger McKenna, who told us The Sue Ryder Story and kept us well entertained.

We extend a warm welcome to all members old and new.

For further information call the secretary on 222246 or 210934.

Little Common Photographic Club

MONDAY October 26 saw the start of Club Trophy competitions for both slides and prints, judged by Mike Chambers ARPS. From 16 entries in the General Slides, four were kept back for further consideration and finally Dorothy Reeve's Morning Calm and Sue Clarke's A Sussex Scene both received full 20 marks; two slides also tied second on 19 points '“ Brian Reeve's Brightness In The Gloom and John Larkin's Reflections, Fota Wildlife Park, Cork'. Natural History section had 12 entries and another tie between John Larkin and Brian Reeve though this time for first place 20 marks with Rook and Helophilius Pendulus '“ wiping its eye respectively. Two slides also tied second on 19 points '“ Sue Clarke's Sealion and June Larkin's Tufted Duck.

From a large print entry of 22, the judge was consistent by keeping back four images with Dorothy Reeve's Blue and White and Brian Reeve's Male Variable Damsel Fly, both receiving full 20 marks; two prints also tied second on 19 points, John Pergande's Missing Persons and Dorothy Reeve's Reflections. From just eight Small Print entries the judge awarded both Sue Clarke's Dartmeet and Flamingoes 20 points, and Sue also had second place with The Colonnade At Night receiving 19 points. In third position was Val Macdonald's Raining Again, 17 points.

The next meeting on November 9 will be a slide lecture entitled 'The Burren' '“ an area in County Clare famous for its flora, landscape and history. This promises to be an evening not to be missed, from Melvin Smith, of Rye Photographic Club, who is well known for his natural history photography and detailed knowledge.

All visitors will be very welcome to this lecture. Meetings for the Little Common Photographic Club are held fortnightly at the Community Centre in Shepherds Close, Little Common, starting at 7.45pm.

For any further details about the Club and its activities '“ please contact Sue Clarke/Publicity on 224979 or John Larkin/Chairman on 842364.

Bexhill Photographic Club

ON THURSDAY October 29 we held our first projected digital image competition, also the evening was shared with the second open slide competition. Brian and Dorothy Reeve provided the expertise behind the projector and Brian ended up the winner of the general class with 20 for his image entitled Beauty and Desolation.

Ray Noble and Paul Hutchings shared the plaudits in the landscape class both The Loughrigg Tarn and Swaledale scoring 20.

The nature class was also shared with previous winners Brian and Ray both scoring 20s with Azur Damselfly and Poppy Texture respectively.

Our judge for the evening having to evaluate 86 images in all was Glyn Bareham.

Before the tea break the nature class of the digital competition was judged and six images were awarded maximum scores (20). A Snail and A Green Bush Cricket by Nicky and Ken Plumb respectively, Robin by Scott Willard, Grey Heron by Ray Barry, Barn Owl by Paul Hutchings and the top accolade went to Moira Foster's Hummingbird Hawk Moth. Well done Moira for a 20-plus.

After a short tea break the second half of the evening was opened by the creative class (14) when two maximums were awarded, The Fans by Paul Hutchings and Leaf glow by Cliff Willard.

Next came the record class (12) '“ two 20s were awarded by Glyn, The Brandenburg Gate Quad Riga by Bob Butler and Lion Door Knocker by Brian Reeve.

The culmination of the evening was the general class (21) in which three maximums were awarded, Archie by Scott Willard, Typhoon by new print secretary Martin Haswell and the overall winning digital image of the evening was taken by Bob Butler entitled Evening Fishing. Very well done, Bob.

Cliff Willard gave Glyn the vote of thanks he thoroughly deserved at the end of an absorbing evening, Glyn responded by saying he felt privileged to judge Bexhill's very competent work and looked forward to returning soon. Thanks also went to the "three Pauls" who organised the digital projection.

The next meeting is the slide set subject and second open print competitions on November 19 at The Friends Meeting House, Albert Road. Details can be obtained from John Bryant Chairman 730758, or visit our website on www.bexhillphotoclub.co.uk

Bexhill-On-Sea District Veterans' Association

THE Association continues to go from strength to strength. Our numbers increased by some five new veterans joining the Association, thereby taking our membership to 70-plus.

Plans for the Armed Forces day Parade on June 26, 2010, are in full swing and the chairman (Chris Gadsden) would like to thank Stuart Marfleet (Secretary) and his daughter Debbie for the hard work they are putting into the event, and also his thanks are sent to all of the public agencies/companies that are showing interest in the event.

On November 8, the Bexhill-On-Sea Veterans' Association paraded for the first time on the Remembrance Day Parade in Bexhill. Some members made the journey to London and other points of the compass to pay their respects to our fallen comrades. We as an association were privileged to lay a wreath of remembrance in Bexhill for the first time. Mr Leonard Gillard (RMP) was given the honour of placing the wreath at the memorial this year. Our thanks go to The British Legion (Bexhill Branch) for inviting us to take part. Special thanks go to Ted King for his help from within the Legion.

November 20 and 21 will see the Association collecting and recruiting at Tesco's at Ravenside; please look for us and support us, as we in turn support Help for Heroes. We are the lucky ones that made it home; there are those much less fortunate than ourselves that didn't.

The social meeting earlier in October was a great success and our thanks go to Pam, the landlady of the Sportsman public house. Our next social will be held at The Sportsman on Sunday November 22, between 2.30pm and 5.30pm. All will be welcome.

To apply to become a member of the Bexhill-On-Sea and District Veterans' Association please contact either of the committee: Chris Gadsden (chairperson) 01424 734204. E-mail, [email protected]; Stewart Marfleet (secretary) 01424 220917. E-mail, [email protected]

Bexhill Hanoverian Study Group

AT the October meeting, the BHSG enjoyed the reminiscences of Mr Eric Brett, from a childhood spent in children's homes and the workhouse to a successful career in the navy where he became a leading cook.

For some time he was transferred to the Canadian Navy and for this received a special insignia. Mr Brett's modest manner belied an entertaining skill as a raconteur. As a result, the group was treated to an enlightening glimpse into a very colourful life

On November 17, Dr Brian Hick is giving the final lecture to the group before Christmas. A regular visitor to the BHSG, this year Dr Hick is speaking about the Vauxhall Gardens '“ 'the delight of all persons of reputation and taste'.

Famous for nearly two centuries until 1859, Vauxhall Gardens was a place for society to see and be seen, from the Prince of Wales to anyone who could afford the one-shilling entrance fee.

Dr Hick will illustrate his talk with pictures and music of the time. Entrance 1. Visitors welcome.

The Royal British Legion Women's Section

CHAIRMAN Joyce Chapman, who gave the exhortation asking us to remember the soldiers in Afghanistan who had been killed that day, opened our meeting on November 3.

We then had the business side of the meeting, before enjoying our poppy tea and bring and buy in aid of the Poppy Appeal. The fundraising events that we have had throughout the year have enabled us to present 200 to the Poppy Appeal.

Our group is small, and we feel proud to have raised so much money. New members are always welcome, and you do not have to be ex-services to join. We meet on the first Tuesday of the month at Gavin Astor Close, Seabourne Road, Bexhill-on-Sea. Our next meeting is on Tuesday December 1 and will be our Christmas event.

For further details of this and our programme for 2010, please contact either Joyce Chapman on 01424 731200 or Gillian Bull on 01424 845130.

Hastings Senior Men's Forum

NOW, let's get this clear! We are not the Hastings Seniors' Forum. They were founded about five years ago. We are the Hastings Senior Men's Forum, and we are now in our 65th year.

Don't confuse us. We meet every Tuesday afternoon for programmes of talks and slide shows.

On Tuesday, we had our annual guests' meeting when we were joined by ladies and visitors for a fascinating programme of early film clips and shorts, presented by Mr Barry Littlechild, who had spent some 30 years with the BBC on just these things.

He has been with us on several earlier occasions, and this time he chose films about our area.